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Jhasmin Paredes was born in La Paz. Even during her first year of life, her mother suspected she might have a heart defect, as Jhasmin tired easily and had difficulty breathing. When she was two years old, the paediatrician confirmed that she did indeed have a heart defect. He advised her mother to consult a paediatric cardiologist. The worried mother took her daughter to the paediatric cardiology clinic at the children’s hospital in La Paz. At that time, the children’s hospital did not have an echocardiography machine.
Although the cardiologist requested a cardiac ultrasound scan, the parents could not afford to have this examination carried out at private clinics. Jhasmin’s condition deteriorated… in October 2015, her mother took Jhasmin back to the children’s hospital.
The girl finally underwent her first ultrasound scan. The diagnosis: ventricular septal defect. The paediatric cardiologist treating her advised that open-heart surgery be carried out. The heart surgery must be performed at the Belgian Clinic in Cochabamba and costs approximately 7,000 EUR. Armed with the results, her mother sought help from the Heart Association. The family is dependent on financial support. Jhasmin’s parents both work in the informal sector – her father and mother work as tailors on the outskirts of the city. Their wages are barely enough to feed the family. They will spend their savings of 1,000 EUR on the heart surgery. Jhasmin has two older siblings who are currently at university. The family of five lives in a small social housing flat on the outskirts of La Paz.
The Paredes family were completely overwhelmed by the cost of the operation. However, thanks to the support of another charitable organisation, the necessary heart surgery has now been successfully carried out!
Jhasmin can now once again – as had been her greatest wish – play football with the other children in her class during break time.
Thanks to your support, we have given Jhasmin the chance of a new life!
Everyone involved is saying: Muchísimas gracias!